Cloquet camping areas span terrain from riverfront sites to wooded grounds near the St. Louis River. Most campgrounds open from May through October, with average summer high temperatures in the mid-70s°F. Mosquitoes intensify during late June through August, particularly in sites close to water bodies.
What to do
Kayaking the St. Louis River: Knife Island Campground provides excellent river access via a wooden bridge connecting to walking trails. "Kayaking trips are great but sometimes finding a wilderness place to stay and keep yourself submerged, away from civilization can be tricky when traveling. This was a great place to plop the tent for a quiet snooze before heading down the Saint Louis River," notes Lesley R.
Alpine activities at Spirit Mountain: Located 15 minutes from Cloquet, Spirit Mountain Campground offers camping near mountain biking and skiing facilities. "Stayed here over the 4th of July, busy but good campground! Clean bathrooms and close to Duluth. Lots of fun things to do," says Stephanie H. Winter visitors can enjoy skiing and snowboarding.
Rock scrambling at Jay Cooke: Jay Cooke State Park Campground features dramatic river rock formations ideal for exploration. "I spent a day trip with friends at Jay Cook. The water levels were low, so we clambered around on the sculpted granite rocks that line the river and falls, dipping on and out of pools and up slick rock faces," shares Jared S.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Buffalo Valley Camping offers secluded camping among trees. "This campground is perfectly located. The grounds are beautiful and it is connected to a Mt. Bike trail. There is a bar and grill on site with a variety of delicious meals and the best chocolate fudge cake I've ever had," writes Melissa C.
Backpacking options: Red Pine Campground (formerly Ogston RV Park) features diverse camping options including some pond-front sites. "There are a couple of ponds at which people fish and a couple of small playground areas. The campground host was very helpful," notes Carol W.
Dog-friendly campgrounds near Cloquet: Pet policies at most campgrounds require leashes and waste cleanup. "Large rv site, beautiful woodsy area, clean showers and bathrooms, friendly staff," reports Gloria S. about Buffalo Valley Camping, one of several pet-friendly campgrounds surrounding Cloquet.
What you should know
Bear boxes at backcountry sites: Some remote camping locations provide bear storage. "Lost Lake backpacking site: very pretty and secluded! It was pretty buggy and ticks were bad, but that's to be expected. Bog/marsh was beautiful with some wildlife and was generally a very pleasant place to camp. Had a bear box as well which was great," explains Lydia N.
Train noise: Several campgrounds report railway disruption. "One of the only things that was obnoxious about this park is that there is a frequently used train track nearby - and the trains really lay on whistle. I slept with earplugs in because of this, but I was still woken up around 4 times that night," mentions Krista T.
Code-access facilities: Bathhouse access may require special codes from hosts. "The camp host will get you the code for the really nice, clean bathhouse that has free showers for campers," notes Annie C. about Spafford City Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated children's areas. "This campground is wonderful. You are so close to the downtown area in this hidden cove. There are walking/biking trails around the grounds. There are few mosquitos and the staff is very friendly," shares Michael K. about Indian Point City Campground.
On-site recreational equipment: Some campgrounds provide games and watercraft. "Horseshoes, ladder toss, and bag toss provided by campground," explains Justin about Fond du Lac City campground, which also offers a playground and sandbox.
Family-friendly trails: Sites near modest hiking paths suit younger campers. "Nice hiking trails. Not too difficult. Family friendly," says Joe N. about trails at Jay Cooke State Park Campground, which connects to several trail systems of varying difficulty.
Tips from RVers
Challenging site access: Many campgrounds have tight turns or natural obstacles. "Overall a very nice camp for a 4 day. Roads are tight for 30+ rigs. Very rutted. Having a ground guide for the tight parking is a must," warns Wayne W. about Knife Island Campground.
Site leveling challenges: Prepare leveling blocks for uneven terrain. "Site was gravel and a little un-level, but nothing extreme," mentions Sam C. about Red Pine Campground, noting the importance of checking site conditions upon arrival.
Dump station congestion: Plan departure timing to avoid service backups. "Dump station is conveniently located on your way out of the grounds but can get backed up at the end of a busy weekend and can make it difficult to exit the campground," advises another Sam C. about Cloquet-Duluth KOA.
Traveler
